Review: THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond

THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond

Avon Books - Available September 20, 2018

A digital advance reader edition was supplied by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Katerina Diamond is being hailed as the new "Queen of Crime", and for good reason. With a well thought out plot, and easy to relate to characters, this book was an easy read.  While some characters are from some of Diamond's previous books, this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

When Connor and his father move from the US back to the UK, they hope to put Connor's troubled past behind them.  But it can be harder to move on emotionally than physically.  He quickly falls in with the popular crowd at school, but he never really feels like he has found his niche. His new friends don't know about his shocking past, or his father. As the story progresses, Connor's life is spiralling out of control, and the consequences could be dire.

Meanwhile, detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey are working hard to catch a serial killer, and Imogen is setting herself up as bait in a dangerous move. Can they figure out who the killer is before the killer finds out who she is?

This book had me engaged right at the beginning, and easily held my interest to the end. Multiple story-lines and sub-plots were woven into a single, cohesive work that was a pleasure to read.

Happy Reading,
Christine

Review: ONE LITTLE LIE, by Sam Carrington

ONE LITTLE LIE, by Sam Carrington

Avon Books

Available July 23, 2018

This digital Advance Reading Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5) 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A suspenseful tale of motherhood and guilt.

Deborah and Alice's lives are intertwined by the common threads of motherhood, violence, and guilt.  Deborah's son was murdered.  Alice's son murdered him.

Drowning in grief, Deborah feels guilty for not being there to protect her son. She is struggling, and failing, to continue her life. She is doing poorly at work, and her marriage is strained.

Alice feels guilty for what her son has become, but is fiercely protective of him nonetheless. In an effort to redeem herself for her son's wrongdoings, Alice has started a support group for parents whose children are deeply troubled. But does she have other motives as well?

Alice feels that she has lost her son too, and that she and Deborah could share their grief. Deborah is naturally aghast when Alice comes to her suggesting that she is suffering the loss of her son as well.  After all, she can still see her son, and talk to her son - things Deborah is denied.

When Alice is found bloody and beaten, it is discovered that things are not always as they seem. Alice has told one little lie...

Connie Summers is a psychologist who is working at the prison, and is able to break through Kyle's 4 year wall of silence.  But once he starts talking, Connie realizes that the danger may extend beyond the prison walls.

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the mothers in this story.  In their own way, each is struggling with guilt and loss, despite being on opposite sides of the same issue.  In the end, the maternal guilt threatens to destroy the mothers regardless of whether the guilt stemmed from not being able to protect their child from violence, or not being able to prevent their child from becoming violent. 

There is a lot going on in this story, and a lot of different players, but the story is written well, and is easy enough to follow.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

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